Washing-machine.



J. VIERLING.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.19, 1908.

947,565. Patented Jan.25, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PignNT OFFICE.

JOSEPH VIERLING, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH VIERLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention consists of an improvement in washing machines, and comprises a frame adapted to be set upon the top of an ordinary wash tub, carrying a pair of rollers, one of said rollers being provided with rotating gearing, the other being resiliently mounted with a supporting board or shelf adapted to receive the clothes as they pass between and beyond the rollers with means for adjustably securing the fame to the tub, and including other features of construction, made and adapted to operate in the manner hereinafter described.

In the drawings accompanying the application: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the apparatus as it is mounted upon the upper portion of the tub. Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing a portion of the tub be neath. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line III. III. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing a corrugated roller substituted for the brush roller.

The supporting frame consists of two cross bars 2, 2, adapted to be laid across the top of a tub as shown, and secured thereon by clamps 3 engaging the upper edges of the tub, said clamps having upwardly extending studs 1 projecting through slots 5 in frame members 2, and provided with tightening thumb nuts 1, whereby the apparatus may be adjusted to tubs of varying sizes, and at the desired position thereon.

Extending upwardly from each frame member 2 at or about its middle portion, are housings or hearing brackets 6, in which are suitable journal bearings for the shaft 7 of the driven roller 8. Said roller as shown in the principal figures of the drawing, consists of a cylindrical brush, and is provided at one end of its shaft with a pinion 9 meshing into driving wheel 10 mounted on one end of the cross shaft 11 and having an operating handle 12. Shaft 7 of the brush roller is adapted to be readily inserted in or re moved from its hearings in housings 6, after removing holding pin 13 or in any other similar manner. The object of such con- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 19, 1908.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

Serial No. 468,302.

struction is to provide for the substitution of brush rollers of diflerent stiffness or construction, or to substitute a corrugated or other roller 14. (Fig. 4) in place of the brush roller.

15 represents the lower roller mounted in supporting arms 1(3, 16, by its terminal journals 17 at each end, the arms 16 being mounted under each of the frame members 2 for flexibility to permit the lower roller 15 to rise and fall toward and from the relatively fixed roller 8. Supporting arms 16 are preferably rigidly incorporated with a tilting shelf 18, arms 16 as shown comprising the terminals of a cross bar 1.9 extending transversely underneath shelf 18 and bent at right angles thereto at each side, the entire structure being pivotally mounted upon a cross supporting arm or bar 20. Said bar 20 is also provided with upwardly extending supporting portions 21 which pass through bars 2 and are secured therein by terminal nuts, as clearly shown, while the cross bar portion 19 is additionally secured to bracket or shelf 18 by suitable clamps 22. Between the pivotal mounting of bar 20 and the journal supports 17, arms 16 are supported upwardly by carrying stems 23 which pass up wardly through bars 2 and are provided with threaded terminals and adjusting thumb nuts 24 with intervening tension springs 25. By this construction, it will be seen that any desired tension may be maintained for pressing under roller 15 upwardly, to suit the kind or quantity of goods being washed or for any other purpose. At the outer side of the lower roller is located a cross bar 26, rigidly connected with the main side bars 2 and preferably provided with terminal guiding strips 27 27, which direct the clothes to be washed inwardly between the rollers. As shown in Fig. 2, ample space is thus provided for lifting the clothes upwardly from the tub cavity and for introducing them between the rollers, and after they are operated upon between the rollers, they pass outwardly on to shelf 18 from which they may be removed to a rinsing tub or any other desired place.

The under roller is ordinarily covered with a metal sheathing 28, corrugated or shaped in the manner generally similar to the covering of an orcinary wash board, and in the case of the substitute upper roller shown in Fig. 1, both rollers are of this same general type.

' In practice I have secured good results with the combination of brush and corru gated rollers and, by reason of the flexible mounting of the lower roller, the goods may be introduced between the rollers and during the constant rotation of the upper roller will be grasped thereby and drawn through, while the operator, turning the machine with one hand and holding and intermittently drawing back the goods with the other, or holding them against the traction of the rollers, thus insures the securing effect until the goods have been thoroughly washed. This operation may be repeated as often as necessary, or continuously throughout the entire length of the goods which will thus be fed intermittently through the rollers, and finally discharged outwardly upon the shelf 18. The scouring effect of the action of the brush and of the corrugated roller is very thorough and complete, and closely analogous to hand brushing or scrubbing and similar to the operation with the ordinary hand wash-board.

The machine accomplishes a greatly increased amount of work and treatment of surface with the accompanying rapid operation and much relatively greater capacity, with a minimum of labor.

While the machine may if desired be operated by other means than hand power, as by any suitable motor, its construction for hand operation renders it available for immediate use, while being simple and inexpensive, not liable to get out of order, and capable of long continued use without deterioration.

It will be understood that the apparatus may be changed or varied in different features of construction or details but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. A washing apparatus consisting of a supporting frame adapted to be set upon the top edges of a tub and having longitudinally adjustable clamps, an upper scrubbing roller mounted in bearings in the frame, gearing for rotating it, a lower scrubbing roller, a shelf pivotally mounted below said frame, and arms secured thereto and supporting the lower roller, substantially as set forth.

2. A washing apparatus consisting of a supporting frame adapted to be set upon the top edges of a tub and having longitudinally adjustable clamps, an upper scrubbing roller mounted in bearings in the frame, gearing for rotating it, a lower scrubbing roller, a shelf pivotally mounted below said frame and provided with pivotal bearing arms for the lower roller, and means for adjusting said shelf and arms vertically provided with spring cushioning devices, substantially as set forth.

3. In a washing apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be set upon the top edges of a tub and having longitudinally adjustable securing clamps, an upper scrubbing roller provided with bristles and mounted in bearings in the frame, gearing for rotating said roller, a lower corrugated scrubbing roller, a shelf pivotally mounted below the frame, arms secured thereto and supporting the lower roller, and a cross bar extending in front of the rollers between the frame members and. provided with leading-in guides, substantially as set forth.

4. In a washing apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame having longitudinal slots and adjustable securing clamps therein adapted to secure the frame upon the top edges of a tub, bearings extending upwardly from the frame at each side, a scrubbing roller and its shaft mounted in said bearings and provided with a toothed wheel, a toothed driving wheel engaging said wheel provided with a shaft mounted in said bearings above said roller and having an operating handle, a tilting supporting frame de pending below the main frame provided with a lower freely rotatable scrubbing roller and having upwardly extending adjustable bolts and terminal nuts, with cushion springs intervening between said nuts and the frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a washing apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame having longitudinal slots and adjustable securing clamps therein adapted to secure the frame upon the top edges of a tub, bearings extending upwardly from the frame at each side, a scrubbing roller and its shaft mounted in said bearings and provided with a toothed wheel, a toothed driving wheel engaging said wheel provided with a shaft mounted in said bearings above said roller and having an operating handle, a depending shelf and means supporting it below the main frame, a tilting frame depending below and supported along on edge bearings depending from said shelf and provided at its terminals with a lower freely rotatable scrubbing roller and having upwardly extending adjustable bolts and terminal nuts, with cushion springs intervening between said nuts and the frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH VIERLING.

Witnesses 0. hi. CLARKE, CHAs. S. LEPLEY. 

